Bobbin-clutching means for rotatable spindles



@5 te 25 LQ Q 9 J. A. MlLLER BOBBIN CLUTCHING MEANS FOR ROTATABLE SPINDLES Filed Feb. 12, 1927 nvenor.

Joseph A Mller bym Patented oci. 25, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH A. MILLER, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO DRAPER CORPORA- TION, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

BOBBIN-CLUTGHING MEANS FOR ROTATABLE SPINDLES.

Application led February 12, 1927. Serial No. 167,668.

This invention relates to that type of spindle employed in spinning frames and similar machines in which bobbin clutching members are provided to fit within the base of the bobbin and to expand therein, thus to maintain the bobbin in position during the! spinning or other operation. l

It is the object of the present invention to pro-vide a simple and eiicient form of con-A struction in which the` pressure of the bobbin clutching members shall be exerted symmetrically' and evenly radially of the spindle as the result both of a spring-imparted force and of the centrifugal force which is brought into action when the bobbin is rotating.

It is the further object of the invention to provide such a construction in which there are a minimum number of parts and in 30 which, as the result of wear or usage, none of the parts are likely to become misplaced, get out of order, or fail to function.

It is the further object of the invention to provide a construction in which no collection of fly, dirt or dust shall be able to interfere with the proper functioning of the parts.

It is the further object of the invention to provide a construction in which a mass of yarn accidentally wound' on the bare spindle may readily be slipped off from the spindle.

It is the further object of the invention to provide a construction in which the spring actuating means for the bobbin clutching members shall have no loose parts and' in which the only movement thereof shall be a flexing movement.

These and other objects and features of the invention will appear more fully from the accompanying description and drawings and 4.0 will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

As the general construction and operation of spinning and similar spindles with bobbin clutching members are well known and familiar to those skilled in the art, it will onlybe necessary here to illustrate and describe the parts directly concerned with the present invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a. View partially'in vertical cross section and partially broken away of a portion of a spindle embodying a preferred form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a View in transverse cross section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of the sleeve forming one element of the construction.

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of one of the bobbin clutching members.

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of the crown spring forming one element of the construction.

In the preferred construction illustrated the blade 1 of the spindle is generally of the usual form and has rigidly secured thereto, preferably by a driving fit, the whirl 2. In the construction illustrated, this whirl is extended upwardly and presents a top flat surface 3 forming the bobbin rest upon which the bottom of the bobbin is seated when in spinning position. p

The bobbin clutching feature of this invention comprises essentially three things, rst. a slotted sleeve rigidly secured to the spindle blade and shown separately in its preferred form in Fig. 3, second, a plurality of bobbin clutching members, mounted for radial movement within the slots of the sleeve, one of these clutching members being shown separately in its preferred form in Fig. 4, and, third, a crown spring also rigidly mounted with respect to the blade and presenting resilient fingers cooperating with the respective bobbin clutching members and shown in its preferred form in Fig. 5.

While the radial movement of the bobbin clutching members within the slots of the sleeve may occur in various ways, these clutching members are preferably mounted to rock about their lower ends seated in a recess in the whirl.

In the preferred construction illustrated, the whirl 2v is provided in its upper surface with an annular recess 4. leaving an annular integral sleeve 5 immediately concentric the blade.

The sleeve 6, as shown in Fig. 3, is a onepiece structure comprising a head portion '7 having an axial bore 8 which fits the blade 1 with a driving fit. From the head portion -7 of this sleeve depends a plurality of similar, symmetrically disposed, circumferentially separated fingers 9. The side walls l0v of these fingers lie in planes parallel to the planes which extend radially midway the slots formed between the fingers. The exterior surface of the head 7 in the sections 11 which are directly above the slots between the fingers lies inor inside of the planes defined by the exterior edges 12 of the walls lll of adjacent fingers. This last feature prevents any of the yarn in a mass of yarn accidentally wound on the bare spindle from catching as it is slid up over the sleeve and thus off from theI spindle because there is no place on the sleeve where the yarn can catch. The sleeve is driven on to the spindle with a driving fit and preferably the lower ends of the fingers 9 seat in the bottom of the recess 11 adjacent the small sleeve 5.

The bobbin clutching members 13 in their main portion present elongated cylindrical segments. At the bottom these segments terminate in outwardly projecting feet 14. At the upper ends these segments are formed with thin lips 15. These clutching members preferably fit snugly within the slots of the sleeve 6 with the feet 14 resting on the bottom of the recess 4 in the whirl, with the lips '15 extending up interiorly of the sleeve behind the sections 11 and with the side walls 16 fitting and sliding against the side walls 10 of the sleeve. At their lower ends the clutching members are also preferably held in position by a split ring 17 snapped in place in the recess 4 above the feet 14.

The crown spring 18 is preferably of the construction shown in Fig. 5. It is an integral, one-piece structure having an integral, annular base 19 snugly fitting the blade 1 and seating on the whirl or on the sleeve portion 5 of the whirl. From this annular base 19 and integral therewith eX- tend upwardly a plurality of similar, resilient, symmetrically disposed, circumferentially separated fingers 20. These fingers are the sameB in number as the clutching members and are of a width which enables them to move freely in the slots in the sleeve. At their upper ends these fingers 20 of the crown spring are similarly weighted preferably by radial outwardly projecting weighted enlargements 21. When the parts are assembled, the outer peripheral edges of the enlargements 21 bear against the interior surfaces of the clutching members near their upper ends.

The crown spring and the slotted sleeve 6 must maintain their relative positions circumferentially of the spindle at all times and this. may be secured by having both driven tightly on to the blade of the spindle. In addition both may be pinned or otherwise secured to the blade, if desired.

When the parts areassembled, the fingers of the lcrown spring bearing against the clutch members serve to maintain the clutch -members in their radially outward position, as shown in Fig. 1. At this time the fingers of the crown spring are substantially in their normal or unfiexed position. When the bobbin is placed on the spindle, as it passes down over the clutch members, it forces them inwardly, rocking them about their feet and thus exing or bending inwardly the fingers of the crown spring. This causes the bobbin clutching members, due to the reacting resiliency of the crown spring 1ingers, to press firmly against the bore of the bobbin and hold it in place. As the spindle rotates, the centrifugal force exerted upon the clutching members and the weighted upper ends of the crown spring fingers is added to the pressure of the clutching members against the bobbin bore, thus firmly holding the bobbin in position.

In the preferred construction, the bobbin clutching members fit snugly in the slots of the sleeve 6 at all times and thus prevent iiy, dust or dirt from entering to any substantial extent the interior of the sleeve 6.

The crown spring acts symmetrically and evenly and as it contains no loose parts or parts movable other than by flexure, it is practically impossible for itto get out of order or fail in its even, symmetrical action upon the bobbin clutching members.

If a mass of yarn is accidentally wound on the bare spindle, it is readily slipped up off the clutching feature, sliding over the outer surfaces of the bobbin clutching members and up olf the head of the sleeve. Due to the construction of the sections 11 of the head of the sleeve already described, this yarn as it is thus moved up cannot catch on any portion of thesleeve.

There is thus presented a very simple, efficient and practical construction of bobbin clutching means in a spindle which functions with accuracy under all conditions and which is practically impossible to get out of order or fail to function.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A rotatable spindle comprising a blade, a whirl secured to the blade having an annular recess in its upper face concentric the blade, a sleeve concentric the blade and secured at its upper end thereto and havin a plurallty of symmetrically disposed simi ar vertical slots, a plurality of similar clutch members mounted one in each sleeve slot, seated at their lower ends in said recess and extending at their upper ends interiorly of the sleeve and having a limited movement radially of the blade in the sleeve slots, and a .crown spring concentric the blade within the sleeve, having its base fixed with respect to the blade, and presenting similar, upwardly projecting, resilient fingers opposite to, and at their upper ends pressing radially against, the respective clutch members.

2. A rotatable spindle comprising a blade, a whirl secured to the blade, a sleeve concentric the blade and secured rigidly with respect thereto and having a plurality of symmetrically disposed similar vertical slots, a plurality of similar clutch members mounted for radial movement one the outward radial movement of the clutch members, and a crown spring concentric the blade within the sleeve, having its base fixed with respect to the blade, and presenting similar, upwardly projecting, resilient fingers opposite to, and at their upper ends pressing radially against, the respective clutch members.

3. A rotatable spindle comprising the construction defined in claim 1 in which the exterior surface of the sleeve in the sections above the sleeve slots lies in, or inside of, the vertical planes defined by the exterior edges of the slot walls, so that a mass of yarn, wound on the bare spindle may readily slipped up ofi' the sleeve.

4. A rotatable spindle comprising the construction defined in claim 2 in which the exterior surface of the sleeve in the sections above the sleeve slots lies in, or inside of, the vertical planes defined by the exterior edges of the slot Walls, so that a mass of yarn wound on the bare spindle may readily be slipped up 0H the sleeve.

5. A crown spring for a rotatable clutch spindle presenting an integral annular ha; 1, a plurality of similar, resilient, symmetrically disposed, circumferentially separated fingers integral with the base and extending upwardly therefrom, with the fingers at their upper free ends having similar radially out wardly projecting weighted enlargements adapted to engage the clutch members of the Vspindle and to increase the responsiveness of the fingers to centrifugal force.

6. An integral, one-piece sleeve for a rotatable clutch spindle comprising a head having an axial bore, a plurality of similar, symmerically disposed, circumferentially separated ingers depending from the head, free at their lower ends, and with the side walls of said fingers lying in planes parallel to planes extending radially midway the slots between the fingers, and with the exterior surface of the sleeve head in the sections above the slots lying in, or inside of, the planes defined by the exterior edges of the walls of adjacent fingers.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

' JOSEPH A. MILLER. 

